Dinner-pail.



PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

W. NJ STEPHAN.

DINNER PAIL.

APPLIUATION IILBD 001217, 1904.

W itnes ses tor I Htlzornegs NlTED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

WILHELM N. STEPHAN, OF OLEAN, NEW YORK.

DINNER-PAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 788,735, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed October 17, 1904. Serial No. 228.774.

To all whrmt i2; inn/y concern:

Be it known that I, VVILHELM N. STEPHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olean, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have invented a new and useful.

, the different portions of the lunch are accessible and removable without disturbing or exposing the other receptacles.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure lis a perspective view of the improved device with the receptacle for the liquid portion of the lunch detached and the casing partially open at one end. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail illustrating the construction and operation of the end closures.

The improved device comprises an inclosing casing 10, which may be formed of metal or other suitable material, said casing being open at the ends and provided with a suitable handle 11. The side edges of the open ends are provided with outwardly-extending ribs,

one of which is represented at 12 to receive guide-channels 13 upon closure members 14 15, by which means the closures are slidably disposed upon the casing. The closures are provided, respectively, with transverse ribs 16 17 to limit their downward movement and also provided with lifting-rings 18 19 or other means for handling them. At thelower sides of the end openings upwardly-extending stopribs 20 21 are formed to prevent the accidental displacement of the food-receptacles, (represented, respectively, at 22, 23, and 2 1.)

The receptacle 24 is for the coffee, tea, or other liquid portion of the lunch, and the receptacles 22 23 are for the various articles of food.

The receptacle 24 is large enough to nearly fill the space between the top and bottom of the casing and reaching to the side walls, so that it cannot be accidentally overturned so long as the casing remains in its vorticalposition, and is removable through the end opening covered by the closure 15 by lifting until it clears the stop-rib 21, as will be obvious.

Any desired number of the food-receptacles may be employed; but generally two are sufficient, as shown, said receptacles being provided, respectively, with lifting-rings 25 26 27 28, one at each end, so that they can be inserted in either direction and bein position for ready removal. The lower receptacle 23 is also provided with upwardly-projecting lugs 29 30 to provide means for supporting the upper receptacle 22 in position and also to enable the two receptacles to be removed together, if required.

The upper receptacle may be removed without disturbing the lower receptacle by merely lifting the same over the lug 29 or 30 and withdrawing the upper receptacle through the opening in either end of the casing.

Preferably the lifting-rings 27 28 will be secured by plates riveted or otherwise secured to the ends of the receptacle and extended upwardly to form the stop-lugs 29 30.

The stopribs 2O 21 are an important feature of the invention, as they hold the receptacles in position and prevent displacement under any jars or concussions to which the casing may be subjected and prevent end thrust or strains being imparted to the closure members by the receptacles, while at the same time they offer no impediment to the ready removal or insertion of the receptacles.

The device will be found especially useful and convenient for railway trainmen, Whose lunch-receptacles are liable to be exposed to dust, smoke, cinders, and the like, as by this simple arrangement the cofiee-can can be removed without exposing the food-receptacles or disturbing them in any manner, which is a very desirable consideration, as is obvious.

A plate or panel 31 of suitable form is placed upon the casing adjacent to the closure 15, said plate being printed, stamped, or otherwise marked with the word Coffee or other character or symbol to denote at which end of the receptacle the coffee-can is located.

The casing and receptacles may be of any size or in any desired proportions or capacity and japanned or otherwise coated or protected exteriorly, if required, but will generally be of tinware without coating of any kind to enable the parts to be readily cleansed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A dinner-pail consisting of acasing open at the ends and provided with detachable closures for said ends, a plurality of receptacles removable through either end of the casing, and stop-ribs extending upwardly from the bottom of the casing for engagement with said receptacle.

2. A dinner-pail consisting of a casing having openings in the ends extending nearly to the bottom thereof whereby stop ribs are formed at the ends of the casing, detachable closures for said openings, a plurality of receptacles held from accidental displacement by one ofsaid stop-ribs and removable through the opening above the same, and a receptacle for liquids held from accidental displacement by the other of said stop-ribs and removable through the opening above the latter.

3. A dinner-pail comprising a casing having oppositely-disposed openings provided with exterior guide ribs, closures for said openings having marginal channels adapted to slidably engage said guide-ribs, a plurality of receptacles independently removable through the openings in the casing, and stopribs extending upwardly from the bottom of said casing for engagement with the receptacles. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

VVILHELM N. STEPH AN.

\Vitnesses:

A. HOLLANDS, W. G. HUTCHINSON. 

